School board votes for full schedule, which will be the first since 2008-09

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The Hall County School District is one step closer to having universal choice within the school district, meaning students would be able to apply for any school in the district.

The idea would be to open up each school and program if and when space is available, even to out-of-district students who would pay tuition.

“I feel like that we have an opportunity to use our space the best we can,” Hall County Board of Education member Bill Thompson said. “And allow students to have full choice as to where they want to be, and when we have space allow others to come in and be a part of our system.”

The issue will be more fully addressed at the board’s Feb. 10 work session.

School will be fully back in session for students and teachers alike next year in Hall County.

“I don’t think we should hesitate at all in putting the 180, 190 days back in,” board member Brian Sloan said. “This is our chance to finally do something positive.”

The Hall County Board of Education approved a full 180-day calendar year for the 2014-15 school year, and a full 190-day contract for teachers, essentially eliminating furlough days, at the Monday meeting.

For the Hall County School District, the last full school year was 2008-09, making it five years since students and teachers have attended 180 and 190 days, respectively.

The change comes after Gov. Nathan Deal announced a $547 million increase in education spending in his proposed budget earlier in the month. It’s expected most, if not all, schools across Georgia will be able to revert to a full school year with those funds.

Board members had approved a tentative 2014-15 calendar at the Dec. 16 meeting. The main differences include extra instructional days in both February and March 2015. While classes will still begin Aug. 8, the last day of school for students is now May 22, not May 20.